Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
J.A. Abraham Blvd 46, Kralendijk Bonaire
Full view
View all photos (346)346
Pool & Beach (103)
Room & Suite (39)
About
#4 of 27 hotels in Kralendijk
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.8
Value
4.8
Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn is a 5 Star PADI resort specializing in scuba diving. We offer all levels of scuba instruction and daily boat trips with experienced, knowledgeable dive instructors. Reserved boats and shore diving are also available. Our retail store has extremely competitive prices and offer scuba repair services as well. The resort has a fresh water pool, cable TV, free WIFI and daily maid service. Comprised of eleven units including a 3 bedroom house and a 4 bedroom house located on the sea with its own dock and boats.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Beach
Snorkeling
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Non-smoking hotel
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Show more
Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Family
Location
60Somewhat walkable
Grade: 60 out of 100
84Restaurantswithin 0.75 miles
19Attractionswithin 0.75 miles
Contact
J.A. Abraham Blvd 46, Kralendijk Bonaire
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Kralendijk rental cars
295Reviews2Q+A50Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 265
- 26
- 2
- 0
- 2
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
First stayed here in the 1990's when it was own by Bruce Bowker. Very simple, small, clean lodging and reasonably priced. Nice pool, right on the water. It caters to divers but you are not required to be one. No restaurants, bars or casinos. You can swim from the dock which is nice. Also, there is a deck you can hang out on. Quick hop to the down town and the restaurants. One thing to know is there appears to be what sounds like rather large dogs that are next-door that carry on in the middle of the night. We were regularly woken by them. Also, for some reason one of the staff members can be cranky and unfriendly...not sure why. Everyone else is great. All in all a good place to stay.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Bruce Bowker was an institution for more than a generation. The dive shop is now run by Chris and colleagues and they are excellent. They are very qualified, experienced, and helpful. You can trust them to service your gear
Read more
Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Love this place, relaxing great diving right from their pier. Friendly helpful staff. Nice sunsets and pool. Small comfortable rooms with either full kitchens or fridge and microwave. Well stocked dive shop with someone who can fix dive gear. Walking distance to town and restaurants and supermarkets for provisions. Was worried after Bruce passed but it hasn't changed, still a great little dive resort in paradise. Will recommend and return.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
119 Helpful votes14 Reposts
Helpful
I ended up being a last minute addition to a group of friends diving in Bonaire so I was unable to book the same resort, but could not have been happier about it! I found Carib Inn based on proximity to my friends' resort and happened upon quite the gem. The rooms are basic, yes, but how much time do you really spend in them? I loved that I had a full fridge and freezer along with a small kitchenette with dolishes and a microwave. The room was also very clean and the ac worked great :). It is really nice to be able to have breakfast or a mid day snack and not have to go out to a restaurant. The best part (in my opinion) is the dock with 2 levels of seating, plenty of comfy chairs and a grill for everyone to use. Everyone there were very friendly and the email communication prior to arrival was wonderful. The dive shop is packed full of everything I could've asked for/needed. I am so glad I saw this place and can't wait to return.…
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
The Island is finally opening and going back to the Inn is like going to visit family. The diving is great. The rooms are clean and roomy. It is close enough to walk to the downtown area and enjoy the many restaurants.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We have been going here for several years. It's like visiting family...the one's you like! Great location, facilities, staff, setting, rooms. etc. It is paradise. We would recommend this for diving and just a relaxing place to get away!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
When a dive resort is founded and operated by the person who put their heart and soul into it, and he passes away, you rightfully wonder what will happen next. The essence of Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn has not changed, it remains a small dive resort catering to divers of all skill levels, continues to have clean, well equipped rooms, and pretty gardens. With Bruce's niece Lynne taking the helm the quality we have always expected continues. The current Carib Inn dive masters are some of the best we've dived with in our 25+ visits to Bonaire. Linda, Kristi, Chris and KC continue the Carib Inn's reputation for excellence in diving. They are knowledgeable, professional and especially important during these times of travel uncertainty and stress, fun to dive with, making your vacation all the more enjoyable. The tank/grounds team are responsive, professional and personable. Rishi, Edward and Arturo continue to provide excellent service. The cleaning team brings their best to each room. Line, Netty and Jenny always create a warm welcome. So many of the Carib Inn team are long time employees, providing a level of comfort and continuity. Upon your return, and return you will, it feels like 'coming home'. Although not all of the Carib Inn team are long timers the newer team members were selected with care as they exude the qualities we've come to expect at the Inn, a level of customer service so hard to find in the world these days. So if you're one of the regulars wondering what to expect on your return to the Carib Inn or someone looking for a small resort that strives for excellence in all areas, look no further than Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn.…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Bruce Bowker, Owner at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Responded Jan 9, 2022
Thank you so much. It was wonderful to see you again. Come back soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I have stayed at Carib Inn many times. We love the smallness of the place and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Their lodging is reasonably priced and the dive shop has good prices and is well-stocked. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, this was the first time we've been back to Bonaire since Bruce's death and we really missed seeing him.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Bruce Bowker, Owner at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Responded Aug 22, 2021
Thank you for your kind words.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Just got back from an awesome 10-day stay. Was best trip / stay on Bonaire we’ve had out of a dozen trips to our favorite island. Carib Inn remains a fantastic place, run by fantastic people, staffed by fantastic people - catering to all skill level of divers. 100% will stay again.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Great location close to town
Great in-house dive shop / minor repairs
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Bruce Bowker, Owner at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Responded Jul 27, 2021
Blushing…..thank you so much
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carib Inn is up and running. Many long-time visitors to Carib Inn are aware of Bruce’s passing last year after an unfortunate accident. He was one of the founders of the diving industry on Bonaire and committed to helping maintain the pristine diving that the island is so well known for. I’m sure he would have been happy (as we were) to see families visiting with their teenage children keen on having their children complete their certification on the island and be introduced to the many beautiful dive sites. Bruce’s niece (Lynne) has stepped in to continue Carib Inn’s diving tradition. Lynne has been a regular at Carib Inn since she was a child and is an accomplished diver in her own right. The majority of the staff (some whom have been there for 20 years) is still there and several new dive guides with considerable experience have joined them. We were among the first groups to visit Bonaire after it opened its airspace to US travelers. There was still a little confusion about testing when we started planning and it took a little work to get it all sorted out. But, that seems to be behind us. The day we left Bonaire announced that they were lifting any testing requirements to enter the country. Of course, your home country may have requirements for you to be tested on Bonaire before you come home. We had no difficulty getting an appointment locally for the testing we needed to reenter the US. The test was $49.00 and we had our results emailed to us within a couple of hours. The restaurants were about 90% recovered. Service was universally good, menus were sometimes a little limited, but the food was still very good. We discovered a new restaurant (Joe’s) over by the airport that definitely deserves a shout out. And of course, the diving was excellent. I would like to report that there were no signs of climate change, but that would not be entirely true. The reefs do not show the level of bleaching that has taken place in other parts of the world, but there is some and it seemed to me that there weren’t quite as many of the deep water fish as there had been in years past. That estimation is the difficult part of the climate change issue. There are normal year to year variations and it can be hard to tell what is truly a damaging trend. Right now, the reefs seem healthy and there is a wide variety of reef fish about. The diving is good. The food is good. The people of Bonaire are anxious to have us back. Thanks to everyone at the Carib Inn…
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Bruce Bowker, Owner at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Responded Jul 27, 2021
Thank you for your beautiful words
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ALSO KNOWN AS
bruce bowker`s carib hotel bonaire
LOCATION
CaribbeanBonaireKralendijk
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingBRUCE BOWKER'S CARIB INN - Updated 2023 Prices & Hotel Reviews (Bonaire, Caribbean)
Frequently Asked Questions about Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Nearby attractions include Beachvibes Surf Shop (0.7 miles), Terramar Museum (0.6 miles), and Van Den Tweel (0.6 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
Is parking available at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Conveniently located restaurants include Kite City, Gio's Gelateria & Caffe, and Stoked Foodtruck.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are there any historical sites close to Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Fort Oranje (0.5 miles).
Does Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.